Post-surgical gas vent



March 29, 1938. F, NN 2,112,666

POST SURGICAL GAS VENT Filed Dec. 22, 1936 larezzce [flame/l Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention relates to gas vents for the purpose of easing gas pains after a surgical operation, and has as an object the provision of a simple piece of apparatus which is in the form of a connection between a rectal tube and a receptacle.

It is a further object of the invention to pro- Vide a connection of this character having means to prevent pressure of gas gathering in the receptacle when a closed receptacle is used.

Further objects will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing showing an illustrative embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view of the complete apparatus in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a detail section on line 2-2 of Figure 1 drawn to an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of a difierent form of the device.

As shown the device embodies a flexible tube III integral with a rectal tube I I having an opening at I2 to the interior of the tube. This is a well known form. It will be obvious that a hard rubber terminal of another common form may be substituted for the integral terminal shown.

The apparatus is shown as connected to a closed receptacle in the form of a male urinal I3 since this is a receptacle well standardized and at hand for every nurse. It will be obvious that any other form of receptacle may be used with the connection modified to fit its opening.

To connect the apparatus of the invention to the receptacle there is shown a hood member I4 desirably formed of flexible rubber shown as thickened at its extremities I5 and I6, the former dimensioned to slip over and grip the opening of the receptacle and the latter reduced to a size to engage the coupling member H which in turn telescopes with the tube Ill.

The device of the invention is particularly valuable for use after surgical operations and drainage of liquids as well as accumulation of gas is expected from such patients. It is for the purpose of draining oil gas without soiling of bed linen that the apparatus is especially intended, and for this purpose a closed receptacle at I3 is important.

If the tube I became filled with liquid, the gas would be trapped and its escape prevented. To

allow the nurse to be certain that the gas has free passage it is preferred to make the coupler H of glass for ready inspection.

An object of the entire apparatus is to permit escape of gas from the colon without any straining by the patient to expel the same, in fact to prevent the patient from being aware that gas is forming, as straining by a patient interferes with recovery from an abdominal operation. If the passage from the colon of the patient to the receptacle and the receptacle itself are both entirely closed, the receptacle will become in effect an addendum of the colon- In this case the pressure would build up in the colon and the receptacle, and the patient could not get relief even by straining. To prevent such accumulating pressure, vent openings to the atmosphere are provided as at I8. As shown these openings are at the top of the hood I4, as a result of which location any liquids may pass to the receptacle without leakage from the system.

It will be obvious that if a collapsible closed receptacle is used, as for instance of rubber walls, some of the advantages of the invention may be secured without provision of the vent openings I8.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiment of the invention within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. Post-surgical gas vent apparatus comprising, in combination: a closed urinal; a hood member of elastic rubber fitting over the mouth of said urinal and having its remaining end of reduced size telescoped with a connector member, said connector member being transparent; a rubber conduit telescoped with the remaining end of said connector; and a rectal tube carried by the free end of said conduit; said hood member having vent openings in its wall.

2. Post-surgical gas vent apparatus comprising, in combination: a hood member of elastic rubber dimensioned to fit over the mouth of a urinal and having its remaining end of reduced size, and having vent openings in its Wall; a connector member telescoped with the small end of said hood member; a rubber conduit telescoped with the remaining end of said connector; and a rectal tube carried by the free end of said conduit.

FLORENCE IRENE FENNELL. 

